Self-Righteous Legalism
Legalism is self-righteous judgement of others.
The plain facts about LEGALISM.
First: Unknown to most people the keeping of God’s law has nothing to do with being a “legalist”. It is unfortunate how people mix up the term “legalism” with “law abiding.” People who say to NOT keep the commandments of God accuse those who do keep God’s law of being “legalists. God says to keep His Commandments. John 14:15; Rom. 2:13; Rom. 6:15 Shall we sin? NO, what then is sin? I John 3:4. Consequences of Sin is death. Rom. 6:23. Consequences of not sinning is life? Rom. 6:23. I John 3:22; Rev. 22: 14 “Blessed are they that do his commandments…” The keeping of God’s law is NOT legalism! It is what God says to do. Jesus kept the law.
Second: What then is legalism? Legalism has been described as,” our attempt to live in a manner that justifies us before God” (Brian Larson COG7 pastor, Spokane, WA). Simply put legalism is Self-Righteousness which leads to judging others. Self-righteous legalism manifests itself in the condemnation of others who do not live up to” our standards” of what God wants. Keeping the commandments of God does not make one a legalist. Keeping the law of God is doing what God said to do. Ecclesiastes 7:18 “Be not righteous over much…why should you destroy yourself”. This is the attitude of self-righteous legalists-they are righteous over much. Judging others because they do not live up to our standards is the basis of self-righteous legalism. The “self-righteous legalist” will complain, correct, criticize and condemn about those who do not agree with them. They will murmur and puff themselves up (II Tim. 4:3-4). Rom. 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” James 4:10 Humble ourselves in the sight of God. When we judge others, we have raised ourselves up to the level of God (Matt. 7:1-2). This is what legalism does-it judges others.
Third: Examples of Self-Righteous Legalism. WE can use the four “C’s”, complain, correct, criticize and condemn to remember how self-righteous legalism works.
Korah’s rebellion as recorded in Numbers 16 is a tremendous example of self-righteous legalism and its consequences. Korah rebels against God with accusations against Moses. Read the entire chapter to see all aspects of self-righteous legalism at work. Other examples are: Complain– Ex. 16:2 Israel murmured about lack of food. They complained. Ex. 17:1-3 Israel murmured for lack of water to drink. The Israelites complained and they preferred to go back to Egypt because they knew better than Moses and God. Correct– Matthew 12:1-2 Jesus was picking corn on Sabbath. Matthew 12: 10-14 Jesus healed the withered hand on the Sabbath. Matthew 26:7-13 A women of low esteem anointed Jesus with oil on His feet. For all these the Pharisees corrected Jesus. Criticize– Exodus 15:4 Israel had no water. Exodus 16:2 Israel had no bread. Numbers 14:1-4 Israel complained and murmured and tried to choose different leaders. Mark 7:5 The Pharisees Criticized Jesus for eating while not “ceremonially” washing his hands. Matthew 26: 59-66 Criticism leads to condemnation. Condemn– The righteous heroes of God were condemned by the self-righteous legalists of their day. Hebrews 11: 33-37; The condemnation of Jesus. Matthew 26:3-4,59, 66; John 18:36-40. Another example of how “self-righteous legalism” manifests itself is found in Luke 10:30-37, the account of the “good Samaritan” shows all aspects of legalism.
Fourth: What God wants from us: Humility. Humility is the opposite of self-righteous legalism. Isaiah 66:2 We are to have a “poor and contrite spirit” (Humility). James 4:10 Humble ourselves in God’s sight.
Do not be mistaken, Legalism is: SELF Righteous judging of others. Complain, correct, criticize and condemn follows a pattern that leads to destruction. As we have seen by Biblical example, first, we murmur and complain about others. Then we attempt to correct them to our set of beliefs. Once our correction goes unheeded, we criticize them publicly to justify our own position. Finally, we break the first commandment and raise ourselves up to the level of God and judge others.
Instead of being a puffed legalist where we complain, correct, criticize and condemn others, let us look at what the Bible says. “…And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8b). The Psalmist tells us, “The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.” (Psalms 24:9). Humble ourselves before our great God.
